KACHY TO DEFY TRICKY DRAW
THERE are two trials at Lingfield ahead of the All-Weather Championships on Good Friday.
A win this afternoon guarantees a place in the relevant finals over six and 10 furlongs.
First up is the Betway Cleves Stakes, a wide open sprint using current ratings as the yardstick.
Caspian Prince, Kachy and Gracious John are within a pound of each other. Kimberella, Intisaab and Lancelot Du Lac are right on their tails within 4lbs of Caspian Prince.
A lot will come down to which horse jumps out best, so my money will be on KACHY (2.00). Richard Kingscote is a class apart when it comes to jumping a horse out and nabbing the inside rail, even when drawn wide which his mount is in stall 11.
VICTORY BOND (3.05) is favourite for the Betway Winter Derby trial. No wonder given he would be unbeaten on the all-weather but for being squeezed for room when second over course and distance in November.
He had previously won at Chelmsford with Ryan Moore up and later won at Wolverhampton for Oisin Murphy.
It is Moore’s turn again today, while Murphy is on the best each-way bet in the race, Elbereth.
She was fourth in the Final last April after qualifying in Dundalk and her trainer Andrew Balding is keen for her to win this afternoon so she does not have to go via Dundalk in March.
EL BORRACHO (12.50) is tipped for the opener. He has not had much luck in his most recent races but he should go close if he does not race as keenly as he has on occasions. Felisa’s defeat of Freebe Rocks over course and distance last month looks better still after the runner-up’s victory in midweek at Kempton.
YOU’RE COOL (2.35) got a new lease of life at the end of last year. He will need a career best to make it three wins from his last four but he is a sporting bet to beat Red Stripes, George Dryden and Brother Tiger – the other three at the top of their game.
YAMUNA RIVER (3.40) is a tentative tip for her handicap. All six runners were in the money, though, last time and it is hard to split them.
Dismally
Master Archer ought to win the last but the grey ran dismally at Towcester in December and a visor is now used.
If he has lost his way the best of the hurdlers in the line-up – AMERICAN GIGOLO (4.15) could cause an upset. Harry Fry’s runner contested a Grade One at Aintree last April and has two wins under National Hunt rules on his CV, one of them a bumper.
The all-weather roadshow moves on to Kempton where PACO FILLY (5.45) has an each-way chance in the opener.
David Elsworth’s use of Ryan Moore for RIPP ORF (6.15) and MORNING HAS BROKEN (7.15, nap) could make all the difference as the pair are in races in which tactics will play a big part.
Hollie Doyle has won two races on my nap with a bit in hand. Moore takes over and you would hope he can get a bit extra out of his mount who may well go on and win in better company.